Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall enter into a formal agreement delineating the responsibilities of the two agencies for the regulation of cell-cultured food products derived from livestock and poultry. Such agreement shall be made public on the USDA and FDA websites within one day of the completion of the agreement.

These products, not yet on the market, are made from animal cells grown in tissue culture; no animals are killed in the process.

What to call these emerging products is a matter of some debate. Proponents call them such things as in vitro, lab-based, vat-grown, or clean.

The meat industry wants them called artificial, synthetic, or fake. It publishes a flier called “Fake Meat Facts.”

The proposed plan calls for the FDA to regulate the collection of animal cells, cell banks, and cell growth—the processes. USDA will oversee production, as it does for live animals and poultry.

Much must be at stake. The agencies’ framework is proactive; the products are not expected to be marketed for several years.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Jennifer Houston said, “The formal agreement announced today solidifies USDA’s lead oversight role in the production and labeling of lab-grown fake meat products.”

“This is what NCBA has been asking for, and it is what consumers deserve,” Houston said.

The market for these products is expected to be huge, but questions remain:

The market for supplements for pets is valued at around $2.6 billion, according to the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC).

Issues driving the market growth include an increasing market share of premium supplements positioned as natural and organic; the rise of obesity/weight management among the nation’s pets; and maintaining the health of older pets, which are living for longer.

In this special edition, we explore the key trends (including CBD!), opportunities, and a couple of brand success stories.

Malden Nesheim and I discuss pet supplements in our book, Feed Your Pet Right(which is actually an analysis of the pet food industry). Just as with supplements for humans, little evidence exists to demonstrate that supplements do any good for pets. But they make owners feel like they are doing something useful. As for CBD for pets? That may make owners feel better too.

]]>Industry-funded study of the week: Eggshttps://www.foodpolitics.com/2019/03/industry-funded-study-of-the-week-eggs/
Mon, 18 Mar 2019 12:43:03 +0000https://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=21160Here’s another in my series of post-Unsavory Truth examples of studies whose funder can be predicted by their titles.

Hypothesis: Egg consumption is associated with reduced risk of macular degeneration, but because eggs are so high in cholesterol, they might increase the risk for cardiovascular disease.

Conclusion: “This study suggests that the consumption of 12 eggs per week for 1 year does not significantly alter fasting serum lipids, lipoprotein cholesterol, or other biomarkers of CVD in older adults diagnosed with early macular degeneration” [the hypothesis is shown to be false].

Funding: “The authors would also like to thank the American Egg Board, Egg Nutrition Center, Washington, DC (T.A.W.) and the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund Inc., New Bedford, MA (T.A.W.) for their funding support. The funding played no role in data collection, analyses, or interpretation.”

Comment: So the authors say, but industry influence is often unrecognized. Independently funded studies sometimes come to quite different conclusions, as one in JAMA did last week. Its conclusion: “Among US adults, higher consumption of dietary cholesterol or eggs was significantly associated with higher risk of incident CVD and all-cause mortality in a dose-response manner.”

A former USDA insider’s account of what our Grand Food Bargain—a system focused on ever-increasing production of cheap food—actually costs Americans in poor health, environmental degradation, and loss of agrarian values and community. Walker’s views are well worth reading for his insights into how our food system needs to be transformed

Some snippets:

Early farm bills, sold to the public by promising more food with less uncertainty, were designed to stabilize food prices and increase farm income. Eight decades later, new farm bills are still being enacted despite average farm income long ago surpassing non-farm income and continuing food surplus. Each new bill is an increasingly costly grab bag of subsidies and protections, which invariably attracts more interest groups and lobbying. Other than loose connections to agriculture, no coherent policy direction exists (p. 91).

Narrow [scientific and technical] expertise alone, for example, does not address the connections among rising rates of obesity, exhaustion of fossil waters, escalating nitrous oxide in the atmosphere, noxious weeds immune to legacy pesticides, growing antibiotic resistance—all the result of how the modern food system operates and how society now lives (p. 114).

As sophisticated financial strategies are grafted onto the modern food system, more mergers and acquisitions by ever-larger multinational companies follow. Food is no longer valued for its ability to sustain life, but only for its ability to generate profits. Whether higher returns come from squeezing farmers under contract to grow pigs or poultry, creating a monopoly on seeds that can be doused with chemicals, or selling food laden with cheap calories makes no difference (p. 141).

Framed as “savings and reform,” the proposal is to move the USDA’s Economic Research Service out of Washington DC. Although this proposal says the purpose is to bring the ERS closer to rural America, its real purpose is to put the ERS out of business.

Why do I say this? Because this proposal comes with a $26 million budget cut. I also hear rumors that ERS research staff are being offered retirement options.

ERS is the jewel in USDA’s crown, nothing less than a national treasure, not only worth preserving but worth extolling for its truly important contributions to society.

I’ve long said that ERS was the best kept secret in government. Its researchers worked tirelessly to provide real data on America’s food production and what it means for health.

Most health outcomes did not seem to have differences between the NSS exposed and unexposed groups. Of the few studies identified for each outcome, most had few participants, were of short duration, and their methodological and reporting quality was limited; therefore, confidence in the reported results is limited.

Based on existing evidence including long term cohort studies with repeated measurements and high quality trials with caloric comparators, use of NSS as a replacement for free sugars (particularly in sugar sweetened beverages) could be a helpful strategy to reduce cardiometabolic risk among heavy consumers, with the ultimate goal of switching to water or other healthy drinks.

In alignment with the conclusions made by Dr. Malik, the Calorie Control Council agrees that the highest quality science supports that LNCS [low- and no-calorie sweeteners] can be consumed as part of a balanced diet and can assist with the reduction of cardiometabolic risk through the management of body weight and reduced caloric intake.

Given the proven safety and benefits of LNCS, consumers should continue to be confident in including these ingredients as part of a healthy diet.

Note the conditional “could” and “can.” Artificial sweeteners might help, but you can’t count on them for miracles.

]]>Another Romaine lettuce outbreak takes its tollhttps://www.foodpolitics.com/2019/03/another-romaine-lettuce-outbreak-takes-its-toll/
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:33:05 +0000https://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=21267I occasionally write about disease outbreaks caused by food and am especially interested in those caused by romaine lettuce, because it’s so hard to trace back where it came from and how it got contaminated.

This post is about two outbreaks of toxic E. coli O157:H7 from Romaine lettuce.

Outbreak #1: This one pretty much ended in November 2018. My post on it is here. The CDC’s page on it is here.

Despite finding that E. coli outbreaks spanning years likely came from the same are or farm and was most likely caused by the same factors enumerated above, the FDA only sets forth “recommendations” that growers of leafy greens assess their growing operations for compliance with applicable requirements of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and GAPs, including (see my snide comments in bold).

I will just give one example of his comments:

FDA continues to recommend (suggest, plead, beg, whine) that leafy green growers, buyer/shippers, and retailers be able to trace product back to the specific source in real time and make information about the source, such as harvest date and standardized growing regions, readily available for consumers on either packaging, point of sale signs, or by other means.

]]>RIP The Salt Institutehttps://www.foodpolitics.com/2019/03/rip-the-salt-institute/
Tue, 12 Mar 2019 12:44:26 +0000https://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=21244I never thought I would live to see this day, but the Salt Institute announced that it is ending operations at the end of this month.

I first learned about the Institute in the late 1980s when I was Senior Policy Advisor to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) editing the 1988 Surgeon General’s Report on Nutrition and Health. The Institute visited us regularly to try to discourage the report from advising “eat less salt.”

Argue that the current high levels of salt intake are just fine for health

Maintain that only a small portion of the population is salt-sensitive

Promote science arguing that low salt intake is harmful

The Institute has a lot to answer for. It has been responsible for confusing the science and creating a most peculiar situation: noisy public debate about salt science while every expert committee examining the relationship of salt to health concludes that we should be consuming much less.

It can hardly be a coincidence that the most recent and most authoritative review of salt and health came out just a few days before the Institute’s announcement . That review by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine reaffirmed what Dietary Guidelines have been saying for years: the upper recommended limit of sodium intake is 2300 milligrams per day, or about 6 grams of salt (a bit more than a teaspoon).

On average, Americans consume much more and, as the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has demonstrated for years, single restaurant meals easily exceed that much.

It might seem the stuff of satire that there is a trade association devoted to defending the amount of salt in our food supply—which contributes to hypertension and cardiovascular disease—and on our roads. Or at least there was: the Salt Institute will close its doors at the end of this month. And it will not be missed.

Rest in peace.

]]>Industry-funded research journal: potatoeshttps://www.foodpolitics.com/2019/03/industry-funded-research-journal-potatoes/
Mon, 11 Mar 2019 12:40:57 +0000https://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=21066Since my book Unsavory Truth came out late last year, I am posting occasional recent examples of issues I discussed in it. Today’s issue: industry funding of research on potatoes of all things.

Potatoes, although containing large concentrations of potassium and some other vitamins, provide a large amount of rapidly absorbed carbohydrate, or glycaemic load. Daily consumption has been associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and weight gain.

Obviously, the potato industry would like to counter advise like that. Its Alliance for Potato Research & Education is devoted to precisely that cause. The Alliance explains that it is “Dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of the role potatoes play in promoting the health of all people.” It issues grants for up to $200,000 for “nutrition research proposals that help to advance scientific knowledge on the role of potatoes in various health outcomes” (the 2019 deadline just passed).

Surprisingly, the papers in this journal are behind a paywall. If the industry wants its research to be read and digested (sorry), I would think its papers would be open access (I was able to get this through NYU’s library).

Conclusion: Until we have better research, “dietary guidance should continue to stress the importance of healthy eating patterns that consist of a variety of vegetables, including nutrient dense potatoes.”

Author’s funding disclosure: none.

Comment: Evidently, this journal does not require authors to disclose funding. Or perhaps every paper in this journal is sponsored by the potato industry? Dr. Beals’ c.v. discloses consulting for the Potato Board.

I enjoy eating potatoes and view their effects on health as depending on how they are prepared, how much is eaten, and how often.

The purpose of potato-sponsored research is to cast doubt on studies suggesting that eating less of them would be better for your health. When you see studies of potatoes and health, be sure to ask who paid for them.

Jonathan Marks is the go-to expert on the hazards of public-private partnerships. His account of the perils reads easily, is well referenced, is clear and to the point, and applies to partnerships with drug, food, and any other corporations. Anyone who cares about the ethical implications of such partnerships for public health will find this book invaluable.

The book is about industry partnerships in general, but Marks uses food-company examples such as the American Beverage Association’s gift to the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania in what seemed to be a direct exchange for the city’s dropping a soda tax initiative, and the USDA’s promotion of cheese.

Marks concludes that

Public-private partnerships, multistakeholder initiatives, and other close relations with industry are premised on a positive conception of consensus, compromise, and collaboration. But the “three C’s” are not inherently good. On the contrary, tension between regulators and corporations is ordinarily necessary to protect public health. And achieving common ground with industry may put off the table measures that might promote public health. The default relation between industry and government should be arm’s lengths relations involving institutional tension, “struggle,” and direct conflict.

The point: the agenda of corporations is to promote profit, not public health. This creates an inherent tension, not easily resolved.

]]>We did it. Feeding You Lies is an INSTANT bestsellerhttps://foodbabe.com/we-did-it-feeding-you-lies-is-an-instant-bestseller/
Fri, 01 Mar 2019 17:47:09 +0000https://foodbabe.com/?p=34632I’ve got great news. My new book Feeding You Lies is an INSTANT bestseller despite the opposition. This is the book people were scared to touch… The publisher of my first book passed on publishing it, I had another publisher back out of offering me a deal because they were concerned the information would affect their “ad … Read More

]]>I’ve got great news. My new book Feeding You Lies is an INSTANT bestseller despite the opposition. This is the book people were scared to touch… The publisher of my first book passed on publishing it, I had another publisher back out of offering me a deal because they were concerned the information would affect their “ad … Read More

]]>Food in America compared to the U.K. (Why is it so different?)https://foodbabe.com/food-in-america-compared-to-the-u-k-why-is-it-so-different/
Thu, 28 Feb 2019 14:31:10 +0000https://foodbabe.com/?p=34574Want to know what really opened up my eyes to how food companies exploit us? I spent years investigating the differences between European and American food products, and what I found disgusted me. A college buddy of mine decided to go live in London for a few years. While she was there, I often had … Read More

]]>Want to know what really opened up my eyes to how food companies exploit us? I spent years investigating the differences between European and American food products, and what I found disgusted me. A college buddy of mine decided to go live in London for a few years. While she was there, I often had … Read More

]]>WATCH &amp;amp; LISTEN: How the food industry is lying to us (and what to do about it!)https://foodbabe.com/watch-listen-how-the-food-industry-is-lying-to-us-and-what-to-do-about-it/
Wed, 27 Feb 2019 14:10:29 +0000https://foodbabe.com/?p=34517The last few weeks have been a whirlwind! My daughter turned 2, and then we flew across the country to California to promote my new book Feeding You Lies, had a huge launch party here in Charlotte, was on the cover of a magazine, had a road trip to welcome a new baby nephew and … Read More

]]>The last few weeks have been a whirlwind! My daughter turned 2, and then we flew across the country to California to promote my new book Feeding You Lies, had a huge launch party here in Charlotte, was on the cover of a magazine, had a road trip to welcome a new baby nephew and … Read More

]]>BREAKING: Roundup found in beer &amp;amp; wine samples (See the brands)https://foodbabe.com/breaking-roundup-found-in-beer-wine-samples-see-the-brands/
Tue, 26 Feb 2019 01:25:20 +0000https://foodbabe.com/?p=34451We all know that alcoholic drinks are not a health food – and alcohol itself is linked to cancer. But, these new findings are just further evidence that this hazardous weed killer is ending up in almost everything that we eat and drink. How much weed killer are we each eating every day? Breaking new … Read More

]]>We all know that alcoholic drinks are not a health food – and alcohol itself is linked to cancer. But, these new findings are just further evidence that this hazardous weed killer is ending up in almost everything that we eat and drink. How much weed killer are we each eating every day? Breaking new … Read More

]]>Feeding You Lies – Share The Truth About The Food Industry!https://foodbabe.com/feeding-you-lies-share-the-truth-about-the-food-industry/
Wed, 20 Feb 2019 14:34:58 +0000https://foodbabe.com/?p=34419Last night I went down to my local Barnes & Noble to see Feeding You Lies on the shelves. It was surreal seeing years of research and the truth about the food industry smack dab on the New Releases table at the front of the store (see a live video below)… This information is now out … Read More

]]>Last night I went down to my local Barnes & Noble to see Feeding You Lies on the shelves. It was surreal seeing years of research and the truth about the food industry smack dab on the New Releases table at the front of the store (see a live video below)… This information is now out … Read More

]]>My New Book – Feeding You Lies Is In Bookstores Everywhere.https://foodbabe.com/my-new-book-feeding-you-lies-is-in-bookstores-everywhere/
Tue, 19 Feb 2019 15:56:42 +0000https://foodbabe.com/?p=34424Today’s the day! Feeding You Lies officially hit stores everywhere. You can now find it at these stores in your town: Target Walmart Barnes & Noble Books-A-Million Your Local Bookstore Amazon Park Road Books (signed copy) I wrote this book because the food industry is deceiving people. Even the so-called “health food” companies are guilty … Read More

]]>Today’s the day! Feeding You Lies officially hit stores everywhere. You can now find it at these stores in your town: Target Walmart Barnes & Noble Books-A-Million Your Local Bookstore Amazon Park Road Books (signed copy) I wrote this book because the food industry is deceiving people. Even the so-called “health food” companies are guilty … Read More

]]>FDA banned ingredients linked to cancer – but they are still all over shelveshttps://foodbabe.com/fda-banned-ingredients-linked-to-cancer-but-they-are-still-all-over-shelves/
Tue, 12 Feb 2019 15:03:24 +0000https://foodbabe.com/?p=34286I went into a news stand at the airport with my 2-year old daughter trying to occupy her for a moment before our flight. The next thing you know, she was playing with the packages of M&Ms, Skittles, and Twix – just going back and forth, admiring all the colorful packages. They were all lined … Read More

]]>I went into a news stand at the airport with my 2-year old daughter trying to occupy her for a moment before our flight. The next thing you know, she was playing with the packages of M&Ms, Skittles, and Twix – just going back and forth, admiring all the colorful packages. They were all lined … Read More

]]>Why Ingredients in Beer Matter – And What Beer Companies Aren’t Telling Youhttps://foodbabe.com/why-ingredients-in-beer-matter-and-what-beer-companies-arent-telling-you/
Fri, 08 Feb 2019 14:55:09 +0000https://foodbabe.com/?p=34215I was having a blast watching the Super Bowl last weekend… and it had NOTHING to do with the game! Bud Light started advertising that they have No Corn Syrup in their beer, and texts like this kept rolling in… You see, we launched the petition that started the conversation about beer ingredients and why … Read More

]]>I was having a blast watching the Super Bowl last weekend… and it had NOTHING to do with the game! Bud Light started advertising that they have No Corn Syrup in their beer, and texts like this kept rolling in… You see, we launched the petition that started the conversation about beer ingredients and why … Read More

]]>4 Examples of Fake Health News – And How To Spot It.https://foodbabe.com/heres-4-examples-of-fake-health-news-and-how-to-spot-it/
Mon, 04 Feb 2019 14:42:24 +0000https://foodbabe.com/?p=32954How many times have you read a new study promoting the benefits of things that you love to consume- whether it be candy, chocolate, or diet soda? It’s so comforting to see that some of these foods could have benefits to your health, right? Well don’t get too excited – because it’s all a BIG … Read More

]]>How many times have you read a new study promoting the benefits of things that you love to consume- whether it be candy, chocolate, or diet soda? It’s so comforting to see that some of these foods could have benefits to your health, right? Well don’t get too excited – because it’s all a BIG … Read More

]]>Invite: Feeding You Lies Book Launch Party On February 18thhttps://foodbabe.com/invite-feeding-you-lies-book-launch-party-on-february-18th/
Fri, 01 Feb 2019 14:12:11 +0000https://foodbabe.com/?p=34180I’m celebrating the launch of my book, Feeding You Lies, and you are invited! You’ll get to meet me, get your book signed, get a Truvani gift bag and try some of the best organic kombucha in Charlotte. Here are the book party details… When: Monday, February 18, 2019 at 7:00pm Where: Lenny Boy Brewing … Read More

]]>I’m celebrating the launch of my book, Feeding You Lies, and you are invited! You’ll get to meet me, get your book signed, get a Truvani gift bag and try some of the best organic kombucha in Charlotte. Here are the book party details… When: Monday, February 18, 2019 at 7:00pm Where: Lenny Boy Brewing … Read More

]]>Healthy Food America strongly opposes delay of the updated Nutrition Facts labelhttp://www.healthyfoodamerica.org/healthy_food_america_strongly_opposes_delay_of_the_updated_nutrition_facts_label_regulations
Mon, 30 Oct 2017 17:58:00 +00007ccf9f6c5555686f67a18e7f60d7bef3The FDA recently proposed delaying the updated Nutrition Facts label from July 2018 to January 2020 for large companies the deadline to use the new labels from July 2018 to January 2020 for large companies. It has further delayed compliance for small companies from July 2019 to January 2021, and they account for a whopping 90 percent of the industry. The updated Nutrition Facts label would clearly indicate the amount of added sugar in a product, make calorie counts more visible, and reflect more realistic serving sizes.

The FDA is accepting comments through November 1, 2017. Continue reading below to see HFA’s full letter to the FDA. To join us and get step-by-step submission instructions for your own letter, visit CSPI’s website. You can also activate your networks to comment using CSPI’s online alert here.

]]>The FDA recently proposed delaying the updated Nutrition Facts label from July 2018 to January 2020 for large companies the deadline to use the new labels from July 2018 to January 2020 for large companies. It has further delayed compliance for small companies from July 2019 to January 2021, and they account for a whopping 90 percent of the industry. The updated Nutrition Facts label would clearly indicate the amount of added sugar in a product, make calorie counts more visible, and reflect more realistic serving sizes.

The FDA is accepting comments through November 1, 2017. Continue reading below to see HFA’s full letter to the FDA. To join us and get step-by-step submission instructions for your own letter, visit CSPI’s website. You can also activate your networks to comment using CSPI’s online alert here.

]]>AMA Adopts Policies to Reduce Consumption of Sugary Drinkshttp://www.healthyfoodamerica.org/ama_adopts_policies_to_reduce_consumption_of_sugary_drinks
Wed, 05 Jul 2017 18:49:00 +00006f54e5497e05a1cc67ddcc99c27b52a4If America’s largest and most powerful physician association has its way, unhealthy sugary drinks will cost more and will no longer be served or sold in the nation’s hospitals or medical facilities.

At the recent American Medical Association (AMA) annual meeting on June 14th, the AMA House of Delegates, which represents over 200,000 physician members, called for adopting evidence-based strategies to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) including:

]]>If America’s largest and most powerful physician association has its way, unhealthy sugary drinks will cost more and will no longer be served or sold in the nation’s hospitals or medical facilities.

At the recent American Medical Association (AMA) annual meeting on June 14th, the AMA House of Delegates, which represents over 200,000 physician members, called for adopting evidence-based strategies to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) including:

]]>Seattle Becomes the Eighth U.S. Locale to Pass a Sugary Drink Taxhttp://www.healthyfoodamerica.org/seattle_becomes_the_eighth_u_s_locale_to_pass_a_sugary_drink_tax
Wed, 07 Jun 2017 23:40:00 +00006220d6d414155ee0cee9fb5d79bf54b4The Seattle City Council approved a 1.75 cent-per-ounce sugary drink tax on Monday June 5th, becoming the eighth locale in the U.S. to adopt such a measure. The tax, which was proposed by Mayor Ed Murray in February, passed by a vote of 7-1.

Seattle joins Berkeley, Albany, Oakland and San Francisco, CA; Boulder, CO; Philadelphia, PA and Cook County, IL (Chicago) in levying a tax on sugary drinks to address critical community needs while discouraging overconsumption of unhealthy drinks. Sugary beverages like soft drinks, sports and energy drinks, fruit drinks, and sweetened coffees and teas, have been linked to diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other chronic conditions.

]]>The Seattle City Council approved a 1.75 cent-per-ounce sugary drink tax on Monday June 5th, becoming the eighth locale in the U.S. to adopt such a measure. The tax, which was proposed by Mayor Ed Murray in February, passed by a vote of 7-1.

Seattle joins Berkeley, Albany, Oakland and San Francisco, CA; Boulder, CO; Philadelphia, PA and Cook County, IL (Chicago) in levying a tax on sugary drinks to address critical community needs while discouraging overconsumption of unhealthy drinks. Sugary beverages like soft drinks, sports and energy drinks, fruit drinks, and sweetened coffees and teas, have been linked to diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other chronic conditions.

After years of projections about whether sugary drink taxes would impact consumption, early evidence is in. These taxes have significantly lowered consumption in Mexico and Berkeley (CA) according to studies conducted in each region.

For this research brief, we reviewed and analyzed evidence gathered from these locales and others, and assessed whether the beverage industry’s counterarguments to sugary drink taxes ring true.

After years of projections about whether sugary drink taxes would impact consumption, early evidence is in. These taxes have significantly lowered consumption in Mexico and Berkeley (CA) according to studies conducted in each region.

For this research brief, we reviewed and analyzed evidence gathered from these locales and others, and assessed whether the beverage industry’s counterarguments to sugary drink taxes ring true.

]]>Webinar: Implementing Sugary Drink Taxes: Outreach, Collection, and Fighting Industry Litigationhttp://www.healthyfoodamerica.org/webinar_implementing_sugary_drink_taxes_outreach_collection_and_fighting_industry_litigation
Tue, 30 May 2017 15:26:00 +0000825d524133a847747e1920838709802aIf your municipality is implementing a sugary drink tax or considering a tax policy, this webinar offers advice about what to prepare for after that win. Panelists from Berkeley and Philadelphia’s tax and revenue, public health, and legal departments shared what they learned while blazing the trail. (Recorded May 15, 2017.)]]>If your municipality is implementing a sugary drink tax or considering a tax policy, this webinar offers advice about what to prepare for after that win. Panelists from Berkeley and Philadelphia’s tax and revenue, public health, and legal departments shared what they learned while blazing the trail. (Recorded May 15, 2017.)]]>Opportunities Ahead And Lessons Learned from Santa Fehttp://www.healthyfoodamerica.org/opportunities_ahead_and_lessons_learned_from_santa_fe
Thu, 25 May 2017 21:49:00 +0000eeaf98d6fffd298c01be20b8a075150dDisappointed but undaunted. It would be easy to languish in the loss of a hard-fought effort to pass a sugary drink tax in Santa Fe. But this loss will become a distant memory as more and more cities and states continue to pass this policy. The negative impacts of added sugars on health and wellness are not going away. We are steadily reminded of the urgency to address the real public health impacts of sugary drinks. For example, a study released in April found that:

"Sugary drinks accounted for 7.4 percent of all cardiometabolic deaths, and higher percentages of coronary heart disease and diabetes deaths (10.8 and 14.8 percent, respectively.)… Sugary drinks accounted for more deaths than any other dietary factor among adults less than 44 years old. Sugary drinks also accounted for almost twice as many deaths among blacks (12.6 percent, the leading factor) compared to whites (6.4 percent)."

Over the last few weeks we have been consulting with allies on the ground in Santa Fe who provided firsthand accounts and insights about the factors that were likely influential to the outcome of the vote. Motivated by the reality of the public health impacts of sugary drinks and supported by science, we will use what we learn from Santa Fe to combat industry attempts to sell unhealthy sugary drinks at the expense of public health in pursuit of the almighty dollar.

]]>Disappointed but undaunted. It would be easy to languish in the loss of a hard-fought effort to pass a sugary drink tax in Santa Fe. But this loss will become a distant memory as more and more cities and states continue to pass this policy. The negative impacts of added sugars on health and wellness are not going away. We are steadily reminded of the urgency to address the real public health impacts of sugary drinks. For example, a study released in April found that:

"Sugary drinks accounted for 7.4 percent of all cardiometabolic deaths, and higher percentages of coronary heart disease and diabetes deaths (10.8 and 14.8 percent, respectively.)… Sugary drinks accounted for more deaths than any other dietary factor among adults less than 44 years old. Sugary drinks also accounted for almost twice as many deaths among blacks (12.6 percent, the leading factor) compared to whites (6.4 percent)."

Over the last few weeks we have been consulting with allies on the ground in Santa Fe who provided firsthand accounts and insights about the factors that were likely influential to the outcome of the vote. Motivated by the reality of the public health impacts of sugary drinks and supported by science, we will use what we learn from Santa Fe to combat industry attempts to sell unhealthy sugary drinks at the expense of public health in pursuit of the almighty dollar.

The tax was proposed and spearheaded by Santa Fe’s Mayor Javier Gonzales, placed onto the ballot by the City Council and supported by thousands of voters who wanted the revenue to be used to expand educational opportunities for the city’s low-income three and four year olds.

The loss offers up a rare win for the soda industry, which, in the last year, has seen sugary drink taxes pass in San Francisco, Oakland and Albany, CA; Boulder, CO; Cook County, IL; and, Philadelphia, PA. The first sugary drink tax in the nation passed in Berkeley, CA in 2014.

]]>Santa Fe voters have rejected a 2 cent-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks that would have raised nearly $8 million for expanded pre-K.

The tax was proposed and spearheaded by Santa Fe’s Mayor Javier Gonzales, placed onto the ballot by the City Council and supported by thousands of voters who wanted the revenue to be used to expand educational opportunities for the city’s low-income three and four year olds.

The loss offers up a rare win for the soda industry, which, in the last year, has seen sugary drink taxes pass in San Francisco, Oakland and Albany, CA; Boulder, CO; Cook County, IL; and, Philadelphia, PA. The first sugary drink tax in the nation passed in Berkeley, CA in 2014.

]]>Illinois sugary drink tax would save millions of lives and dollars, Harvard model projectshttp://www.healthyfoodamerica.org/illinois_sugary_tax_would_save_millions_of_lives_and_dollars_harvard_model_projects
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:38:00 +0000fb9f2d06ccad2efe700f22f52f308028Atax on sugary drinks in Illinois would reduce consumption of health-harming beverages enough to reduce incidence of diabetes, prevent about 116,000 of cases of obesity and avert millions in healthcare costs over 10 years, researchers at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health have concluded.

Using a peer-reviewed model known as CHOICES, the researchers project in a new report that the tax of one cent per ounce would persuade many regular consumers of sugary drinks to shift to water or other, less harmful drinks. As a result:

The incidence of diabetes would drop by an estimated 9 percent when the tax reaches full effect;

116,000 fewer people would be burdened with obesity at the end of 2025 than without the tax;

Healthcare costs would drop by $733 million thanks to reduced chronic disease associated with excess sugar and weight gain.

]]>Atax on sugary drinks in Illinois would reduce consumption of health-harming beverages enough to reduce incidence of diabetes, prevent about 116,000 of cases of obesity and avert millions in healthcare costs over 10 years, researchers at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health have concluded.

Using a peer-reviewed model known as CHOICES, the researchers project in a new report that the tax of one cent per ounce would persuade many regular consumers of sugary drinks to shift to water or other, less harmful drinks. As a result:

The incidence of diabetes would drop by an estimated 9 percent when the tax reaches full effect;

116,000 fewer people would be burdened with obesity at the end of 2025 than without the tax;

Healthcare costs would drop by $733 million thanks to reduced chronic disease associated with excess sugar and weight gain.

]]>New profiles share key lessons from Bay Area soda tax campaignshttp://www.healthyfoodamerica.org/new_profiles_share_key_lessons_from_bay_area_soda_tax_campaigns
Wed, 19 Apr 2017 19:34:00 +0000ea35be8d7136536b6165351f835f5c68In November, three more Bay Area cities joined Berkeley in adopting sugary drink taxes of one cent per ounce. How did they do it?

Three new profiles tell a little of the story in facts, figures and lessons learned. For example, did you know that more than $34.5 million was spent on the San Francisco campaign -- $12 million in support and more than $22.5 million in opposition? What worked? Early outreach to business was critical, building on the groundwork laid in an unsuccessful 2014 bid and high-profile leadership by women of color are some of the key take-aways.

]]>In November, three more Bay Area cities joined Berkeley in adopting sugary drink taxes of one cent per ounce. How did they do it?

Three new profiles tell a little of the story in facts, figures and lessons learned. For example, did you know that more than $34.5 million was spent on the San Francisco campaign -- $12 million in support and more than $22.5 million in opposition? What worked? Early outreach to business was critical, building on the groundwork laid in an unsuccessful 2014 bid and high-profile leadership by women of color are some of the key take-aways.

]]>Berkeley sugary drink tax is working, new study showshttp://www.healthyfoodamerica.org/berkeley_sugary_drink_tax_is_working_new_study_shows
Tue, 18 Apr 2017 23:59:00 +0000a79f722f213275a33d698b7774857410What if there were a public policy that rewarded industry for selling healthier products and led consumers to buy fewer health-harming ones, while at the same time raising revenue to improve people’s lives – all without damage to the economy?

Turns out there is one. Meet the Berkeley sugary drink tax.

A new study shows that after one year of taxing sugary drinks at a penny an ounce, Berkeley saw sales of those beverages drop nearly 10 percent as water sales went up and store revenue remained constant. According to research co-led by researchers at The University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Public Health Institute of Oakland, CA:

]]>What if there were a public policy that rewarded industry for selling healthier products and led consumers to buy fewer health-harming ones, while at the same time raising revenue to improve people’s lives – all without damage to the economy?

Turns out there is one. Meet the Berkeley sugary drink tax.

A new study shows that after one year of taxing sugary drinks at a penny an ounce, Berkeley saw sales of those beverages drop nearly 10 percent as water sales went up and store revenue remained constant. According to research co-led by researchers at The University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Public Health Institute of Oakland, CA: